With the recent addition of the growing "Help assist" list that Dave graciously put together, I was wondering if any other busnuts across the nation used Nextel? If so would it be of any help to have us share our two way direct connect numbers for quick replies IF we ever needed questions answered or help on the road!

Great idea ACE, but there are those of us who either still live in the "boonies" and can't get Nextel coverage (no signal) or what about if you are out in the boonies (20 miles from an Interstate Hwy as far as Nextel goes!) That's why I've listed my cell # and also if no one is inthe shop or office we have our calls forwarded (business issue!), but hey don't get me wrong I love the idea and it could at times be beneficial! Just remember there are downsides to all good ideas! BK

By the way hows that pup? We have a new one here on the property too! The guy who rents the trailer here on the property went fishing the other night and had a German ( atleast mostly from appearance) Shepard pup come up and adopt him (someone had abandoned it at the lake) and Donnie said since I found him at Garret Lake we'll call him Garret! So anyone coming to the "TN FALL BUS BASH" can rest assured we now have a genuine "Guard Dog" on the premises to watch over the coaches & beg for treats and hand outs (he came with that trait! LOL!) BK

BK I understand what you mean about Nextel not always being the connection it SHOULD be when you NEED it. Lord knows I have cussed it many times here locally and I can only imagine what it's like out in the boonies!

As for the Pup we call Bud-Ro?

He's the greatest thing that ever could have found me since Pepper left.

Ace,this is a bus site to talk about buses or related topics I guess,in my opinion Bud-ro is now a part of your bussin family and will be traveling on the bus with you so that makes it all related,if some one wants to complain let them,who cares,I think for the most part most people on this board are freindly and want to share in with others happiness or offer support to those who are having a little trouble so in my opinion be proud and show your pics and I for one will share in it with you.As much as I enjoy our bus and working on it I do not think the world began or will end with buses and I enjoy reading when someone has something go good for them even if it is not about their bus............This is only my opinion and we all know what that is worth,ok I will get off my soapbox now Mike

Ace I agree with Bob & Mike! Also it looks like in that one pic "Bud-Ro" is saying hey let's not forget to pack my dish, cause it's gonna be a long month & a half of fun! LOL! Opps! Let's modify this an start at the Deleware Rally! LOL!

Bruce & Nicks Gig Deleware Sept 22nd-24thEagles Bash Branson, MO Oct 2nd-5th Dallas & Cats Shindig Timmonsville, SC Oct 5th-8thChristy's Jersey Round Up Carthage, MO Oct 13th-15thTN Fall Bus Bash @ Knuckle's Union City, TN Oct 26th-31stPLEASE do not wait till the last minute to sign up or worse yet, just plan on dropping in. All rallies take a lot of planning . We must know how many folks are coming so we can plan the activities. I am sure we plan for a few extra, but if we are overwhelmed with folks we did not plan for, that becomes unfair to everybody. End of soap box!____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Get those registrations into Bruce/Nick, Byron, Dallas & Cat, Christy, & Me and look at all the fun you'll have going to Deleware to Branson, MO to Timmonsville, SC, to Carthage MO, and then here to Union City, TN for an excellent extended month long adventure of camping and commodere! BK!

Mad Max's dog was a registered Australlian Cattle Dog (blue heeler color pattern). Bud-Ro will probably darken as he matures. That is typical of the Australian Cattle Dog breed. Ace, glad to hear Bud-Ro is doing good and growing. We are looking forward to seein' him again at Timmonsville. Jack

Pit Bulls are ugly, nasty dogs. I've read that Australian Cattle Dogs are very docile and friendly, although I've never met one myself. My parents have a 'heeler' too (a Lancashire Heeler in their case), and I was amazed to hear a radio program about them sometime ago when it was described how drovers used to walk their cattle from Wales to London, with their heelers keeping the cattle moving by nipping their heels as necessary. The journey would take many days, and the drovers would stay overnight at various inns and public houses on the way. Once they arrived in London the drover would have to wait there whilst the cattle was sold - so he would send the dog back to Wales by itself! And on the way back the dog would stop at the same inns each night, and be given a meal which the drover had paid for in advance on the outward journey.

The idea that these dogs (which are exactly the same breed as we have today) could be trained (and trusted) to undertake these journeys really blew my mind, and really goes to prove that they are capable of being much more than just being the 'pets' we think them to be

Another cattle dog that has incredible abilities is the Florida cur. I've never seen one, but I heardabout them from a guy who knew some cattle owners in Florida and he went into great detail abouthow they are trained as pups by the previous generation of curs, not by the owners. The ownerjust takes the pups out with the adult dogs. They think it's play, but eventually they "get it".Some take longer (like kids, I suppose), but eventually *every one* catches on and becomes aproductive dog.